Pro Wrestling
Pro Wrestling
Advertisement
Pro Wrestling

Alipate "Pate" Fifita (September 26, 1982) is a Tongan professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on the SmackDown brand. He previously worked for the Japanese professional wrestling promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). He is the adopted son of professional wrestler Tonga Fifita, better known under the ring names Haku and Meng, the adopted brother Tanga Loa and the brother of professional wrestler Taula Fifita. He wrestles barefoot like his father and other famous islanders from Tonga and Samoa and uses the same type of "Island Savage" ring character that his father used as well. Fifita is under contract with NJPW, but has also worked with NJPW's partner Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). He currently works under the name Tama Tonga, a name used by his father early in his career.

Early life[]

Alipate and his brother Taula were adopted by professional wrestler Tonga Fifita, better known as Haku, and raised along with Fifita's biological son Tevita and a daughter. Fifita spent six years in the United States Air Force, which taught him self-discipline that has helped him in his wrestling career. Once his Air Force career ended he was inspired by his father to become a professional wrestler.

Professional wrestling career[]

Early career (2008-2010)[]

Fifita began his professional wrestling career in 2008, working on the independent circuit after graduating from Bully Ray and Devon Team 3D Academy of Professional Wrestling and Sports Entertainment. He worked for World Xtreme Wrestling and even held the WXW Television Championship for seven days. He also worked in Puerto Rico for the World Wrestling Council, where he and Idol Stevens held the WWC World Tag Team Championship for 20 days. Early in his career he worked under various ring names such as Kava, King Tonga Jr. and Pate Fifita.

New Japan Pro Wrestling[]

Debut (2010–2012)[]

Fifita began working for the Japanese wrestling promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) in May, 2010 under the ring name Tama Tonga (A name also used by his father). His debut match came as part of the 2010 Super Junior Tag Tournament where he teamed up with Davey Richard, but lost in the first round to El Samurai and Koji Kanemoto. Tama Tonga was one of 16 wrestlers that competed in the 2010 Best of the Super Juniors tournament. He defeated Davey Richards and Nobuo Yoshihashi but lost to Fujita Hayato, Kenny Omega, Koji Kanemoto, Ryusuke Taguchi and Taiji Ishimori and ended up with just four points, second to last his group. He teamed up with Hirooki Goto to compete in the 2010 G1 Tag League tournament. The team earned four points for victories over King Fale and Super Strong Machine and the team of Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma. The two lost to the teams of Yuji Nagata and Wataru Inoue, Manabu Nakanishi and Strong Man and finally Masato Tanaka and Tomohiro Ishii, ending fourth in their group. He also entered the 2011 G1 Tag League tournament, this time teaming up with Strong Man. Tonga's success in the 2011 league was even less than his first league showing, winning only one match over the team of King Fale and Yuji Nagata but being defeated by the rest of the teams in his group. On January 4, 201,2 Tonga worked on NJPW's biggest show of the year as he appeared in a dark match before NJPW's Wrestle Kingdom VI show. The match saw Tama Tonga and Captain New Japan defeat Kyōsuke Mikami and Tomoaki Honma.

Excursion to CMLL (2012)[]

In September 2012 it was announced that Tama Tonga would visit Mexico and work for NJPW's Mexican partner, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) for an extended trip to expose him to other styles of wrestling. His debut match for CMLL saw him participate in the 2012 version of CMLL's Leyenda de Azul ("Legend of the Blue") tournament. The match was a 16-man torneo cibernetico elimination match that saw Tonga eliminated when Atlantis and Shocker double-teamed him. Following the tournament, Tama Tonga has worked with a number of CMLL's top stars, including the Leyenda de Azul tournament winner Diamante Azul. On November 13, 2012, Tama Tonga and El Terrible won the CMLL World Tag Team Championship from Atlantis and Diamante Azul. Tonga next made it to the finals of the 2012 La Copa Junior Tournament, where, on December 14, he was defeated by La Sombra in the main event of CMLL's 2012 Sin Piedad ("No Mercy") show.

Return to New Japan Pro Wrestling (2013–2024)[]

Bullet Club (2013–2022)[]

Main article: Bullet Club

Tonga returned to NJPW in early 2013, just in time to compete on NJPW's January 4 Wrestle Kingdom 7 in Tokyo Dome where he teamed up with Captain New Japan and Wataru Inoue to defeat Jado, Tomohiro Ishii and Yoshi-Hashi when Tonga pinned Jado. On April 7, Tonga and El Terrible successfully defended the CMLL World Tag Team Championship against La Máscara and Valiente at New Japan's Invasion Attack event. On May 3 at Wrestling Dontaku 2013, Tonga formed a new heel alliance named Bullet Club with Prince Devitt, Bad Luck Fale and Karl Anderson as the four attacked Hiroshi Tanahashi. On July 5, Tonga and El Terrible lost the CMLL World Tag Team Championship to Tanahashi and Jushin Liger. Tonga regained the title from Tanahashi and Liger on September 14 with new partner Rey Bucanero. Tonga returned to CMLL with Bucanero in early October. On October 18, Tonga and Bucanero were stripped of the CMLL World Tag Team Championship, when they were unable to defend the title against La Máscara and Rush due to Bucanero being sidelined with an injury. Tonga remained in CMLL until the end of the year.

In wrestling[]

  • Finishing moves
    • Dream Catcher (Twister) - 2017-2018
    • Gun Stun (Jumping Ace Crusher)
    • Ghost Face (Fireman Carry Flapjack)  - Early career
  • Signature moves
  • With Tanga Loa
    • Double team Finishing moves
      • Aided Super Powerbomb - Adopted from Gedo & Jado - 2018–present
      • Magic Killer (Aided Snap Swinging Neckbreaker) - Adopted from Gallows & Anderson - 2016–present
      • Guerilla Warfare (Aided Double Arm DDT)
      • Nightfall (Belly-to-Back Suplex (Loa)/Neckbreaker (Tama) Combination)
  • Nicknames
    • "Bad Boy"
    • "Good Guy"
    • "Good Bad Guy"
    • "MFT"
  • Entrance music
    • "Wao!" by New Japan Pro Wrestling - 2010-2012
    • "Last Chance Saloon" by Deviant and Naive Ted (used while a part of Bullet Club) - 2012-2014
    • "Shot'Em" by [Q]Brick (used while a part of Bullet Club) - 2014–present
    • "Spider Dance" by Yonosuke Kitamura - 2012-2016
    • "Guerilla Tactics" (Used while teaming with Tanga Loa and singles action) - 2016-2019
    • "GOD (Firing Squad)" by No Name Tim feat. Kashis Keyz - (2019–present)

Championships and accomplishments[]

External links[]

Wwe2014WWE RosterWwe2014
Raw

AkamAkira TozawaAlba FyreAlexa BlissAsukaBecky LynchBraun StrowmanBron BreakkerBronson ReedBrutus CreedCarlitoCarmellaChad GableCM PunkCruz Del ToroDakota KaiDamian PriestDexter LumisDominik MysterioDragon LeeDrew McIntyreErick RowanErikFinn BálorGuntherIsla DawnIYO SKYIvarIvy NileJD McDonaghJey UsoJoaquin WildeJoe GacyJulius CreedKairi SaneKarrion KrossKatana ChanceKayden CarterKiana JamesKofi KingstonLiv MorganLudwig KaiserLyra ValkyriaMaryseMaxxine DupriNatalyaNikki CrossOtisPete DunneR-TruthRaquel RodriguezRey MysterioRezarRhea RipleySami ZaynScarlettSeth RollinsShayna BaszlerSheamusSonya DevilleThe MizTitus O'NeilTyler BateValhallaXavier WoodsZelina VegaZoey Stark

SmackDown

Apollo CrewsA.J. StylesAlex ShelleyAndradeAngel GarzaAngelo DawkinsAshante AdonisAustin TheoryB-FABBayleyBianca BelairBig EBlair DavenportCandice LeRaeCarmelo HayesCedric AlexanderCharlotte FlairChelsea GreenChris SabinCody RhodesElektra LopezElton PrinceGiovanni VinciGrayson WallerHumberto CarrilloIlja DragunovJacob FatuJade CargillJimmy UsoJohnny GarganoKarl AndersonKevin OwensKit WilsonLA KnightLuke GallowsMichinMontez FordNaomiNia JaxPiper NivenRandy OrtonRidge HollandRoman ReignsSantos EscobarShinsuke NakamuraShotzi BlackheartSolo SikoaTama TongaTaminaTiffany StrattonTommaso CiampaTonga Loa

NXT

Adriana RizzoAndre ChaseArianna GraceAxiomBronco NimaBrooks JensenChanning LorenzoCharlie DempseyCora JadeDante ChenDion LennoxDuke HudsonEddy ThorpeEdris EnofeEthan PageFallon HenleyGigi DolinGiuliaJacy JayneJaida ParkerJakara JacksonJavier BernalJazmyn NyxJe'Von EvansJoe CoffeyJosh BriggsKarmen PetrovicKelani JordanLash LegendLexis KingLola ViceLuca CrusifinoLucien PriceMalik BladeMark CoffeyMyles BorneNathan FrazerNikkita LyonsNoam DarOba FemiOro MensahRoxanne PerezRiley OsborneShawn SpearsSol RucaStephanie VaquerTatum PaxleyTavion HeightsThea HailTony D'AngeloTrick WilliamsTyriek IgweTyson DupontWendy ChooWes LeeWolfgangWren SinclairZaria

Free agents

Brock LesnarOmos

Stables & Tag Teams

Alpha AcademyChase UDamage CTRLDiamond MineGallusLatino World OrderLegado Del FantasmaMeta-FourNo Quarter Catch CrewPretty DeadlyThe Authors of PainThe BloodlineThe D'Angelo FamilyThe Final TestamentThe Judgment DayThe New DayThe O.C.The Street ProfitsThe Viking RaidersThe Wyatt Sicks

Commentators & Interviewers

Booker TByron SaxtonCathy KelleyCorey GravesJackie RedmondJoe TessitoreMegan MorantMichael ColeSarah SchreiberVic JosephWade Barrett

Ring announcers

Alicia TaylorMike RomeSarah Schreiber

Referees

Chad PattonCharles RobinsonChip DanningDan EnglerDallas IrvinDanilo AnfibioDaphne LashaunnDarryl SharmaDerek SandersEddie OrengoJason AyersJessika CarrJohn ConeOlympe MargauxRich SwiftRod ZapataRyan TranShawn BennettTom ScarboroughWill Charlton

Pre-Show Panel

Booker TDavid OtungaJackie RedmondJohn Bradshaw LayfieldPete RosenbergSam Roberts

NXT Trainers

Matthew BloomNorman SmileyRobbie BrooksideSara Del ReyShawn MichaelsTerry Taylor

General Managers

Adam Pearce (Raw) • Nick Aldis (SmackDown) • Ava (NXT)

Wwe2014Current ChampionsWwe2014
New WWE World Heavyweight Title WWE Championship New WWE World Heavyweight Title
Cody Rhodes
Universal Championship SDblue WWE Universal Championship Universal Championship SDblue
Cody Rhodes
World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)World Heavyweight ChampionshipWorld Heavyweight Championship (WWE)
Gunther
WWE Intercontinental Title Nov2019WWE Intercontinental ChampionshipWWE Intercontinental Title Nov2019
Bron Breakker
WWE United States Championship 2020WWE United States ChampionshipWWE United States Championship 2020
Shinsuke Nakamura
Women's World Championship (WWE)Women's World ChampionshipWomen's World Championship (WWE)
Liv Morgan
WWE Women's Championship 2023WWE Women's ChampionshipWWE Women's Championship 2023
Nia Jax
2024 world tag team championshipWorld Tag Team Championship2024 world tag team championship
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor & JD McDonagh)
WWE Tag Team Championship (2024)WWE Tag Team ChampionshipWWE Tag Team Championship (2024)
#DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa)
WWE Women's Tag Team ChampionshipWWE Women's Tag Team ChampionshipWWE Women's Tag Team Championship
Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill
WWE Speed Championship WWE Speed Championship WWE Speed Championship
Dragon Lee
WWE Speed Women's Championship WWE Speed Women's Championship WWE Speed Women's Championship
Candice LeRae
NXT Championship 2024NXT ChampionshipNXT Championship 2024
Trick Williams
NXT North American ChampionshipNXT North American ChampionshipNXT North American Championship
Tony D'Angelo
NXT Women's Championship 2024NXT Women's ChampionshipNXT Women's Championship 2024
Roxanne Perez
NXT Women's North American ChampionshipNXT Women's North American ChampionshipNXT Women's North American Championship
Fallon Henley
NXT Tag Team Championship (2017)NXT Tag Team ChampionshipNXT Tag Team Championship (2017)
Nathan Frazer & Axiom
NXT UK Heritage Cup ChampionshipNXT Heritage Cup ChampionshipNXT UK Heritage Cup Championship
Charlie Dempsey
Advertisement